How to Register Your Rabbit With ARBA

Registering your rabbit with ARBA basically proves that your rabbit was free of DQs at the time of registration, and lends a bit of credit to your pedigrees and your rabbitry. It also means that if your rabbit has 3 legs (and at least 1 leg was won at over 6 months of age), under at least 2 separate judges, and has a registerable pedigree, then it can be registered as a Grand Champion.

Once you register your rabbit, it will get a registration number, which is a series of numbers and letters that you can put on your rabbit's pedigree. Any fully pedigreed, purebred rabbit of a recognized breed, that is free of disqualifications can be registered. The pedigree must have the names, tattoos, weights, and colors of all of the ancestors of the rabbit. Your rabbit must be a recognized color. Examples of unrecognized colors in Hollands Lops, which are ineligible for ARBA registration, are torted otter aka fox, silver marten, and tan. Your rabbit must also have a legible tattoo in the LEFT ear.

To register a rabbit, you will need to go to a show, and bring along two copies of your rabbit's complete 3+ generation pedigree, your rabbit, your ARBA membership card, and $6 for the registration fee. The registrar will look over your rabbit and pedigree, and will weigh the rabbit and check for DQs. You will have to fill out an application form. If the rabbit is indeed found to be free of DQs and the pedigree is accurate, the registrar will tattoo your rabbit in the RIGHT ear. Sometime in the future, depending on how fast ARBA gets it to you, you will be mailed the registration papers for your rabbit.

​Your registration certificate may be marked with a seal. A red seal means that both parents of your rabbit were registered. Red and white means that all the parents and grandparents were registered. Red, white, and blue means that all rabbits on the registration form were registered. And gold means that all the rabbits on the registration form were registered Grand Champions.

​Do you register your rabbits, or not? Tell us below in the comments section!